FID – Chapter 858

Chapter 858 – The Prolonged Taste of Awaiting Death

Feng Qingbai did his best to suppress the surge of emotions in his chest, forcing himself to remain calm.

“Under which emperor did you live in your previous life?”

“The world I lived in during my past life no longer had emperors. It was a very democratic era, where men and women were equal.”

“Men and women equal?”

“Mm. There, monogamy was practiced. If someone wanted to take concubines, they would be condemned by society—actually, it was even illegal.” Liu Yusheng raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smile. 

Even though he couldn’t see her expression clearly, she knew just how shocked he must be inside.

Then, slowly, she began to describe the world she had once lived in.

To Feng Qingbai, everything she said sounded utterly fantastical. Had it been anyone else telling him these things, he would never have believed them.

Monogamy. Gender equality. People didn’t travel by horse-drawn carriages. They were too slow.

They used metal-shell ‘automobiles’ to get around, and even ‘airplanes’ to fly through the sky.

Even when separated by thousands of miles, people could still hear each other’s voices and have conversations through something called a ‘mobile phone.’

“Then… were you married in your past life?” Feng Qingbai’s heart twisted into a knot as he asked.

He knew he probably shouldn’t be asking this.

It was her past life, after all. She had her own path back then. How could a grown woman not have married once she came of age?

Even so, he was still jealous—madly, fiercely jealous.

The woman let out a soft laugh. “No, I wasn’t. I died when I was twenty-six, about the same age you are now. I was still single, and I didn’t even have someone I liked.”

In both her past and present life, she had only ever fallen in love with him.

That sentence instantly soothed the storm of jealousy raging in Feng Qingbai’s heart, calming the aura around him.

He didn’t even realize the change in himself.

He was completely a jar of vinegar—overflowing with jealousy.

But her words drew his attention to one particular word.

Died.

In her past life, his Shengsheng had only lived to be twenty-six.

So short.

Shamefully, while he felt pain in his heart, he also felt a trace of relief.

If Shengsheng hadn’t died at that age, perhaps… Perhaps in this life, they never would have met.

He desperately wanted to ask how she died. Was it from illness, an accident, or was she murdered?

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask. It hurt too much.

“I was murdered,” the woman said, as if sensing what he was thinking. Before he could ask, she spoke of her own accord. “By my own family. They severed the tendons in my right hand and threw me into the Cang’er Sea, east of Lancheng. It was winter. I remember it very clearly—November 12th, 2018, at ten in the evening. The seawater was so cold…”

How could she ever forget her death day?

Feng Qingbai pulled her tightly into his arms. “That’s enough, Shengsheng. I don’t want to hear any more.”

If remembering brought her pain, he would rather she never recalled it again. He didn’t need to know.

“Your past life is over. This life is this life. Shengsheng, you are now in my arms, my Princess of Nanling.”

“Don’t you want to know why they wanted to kill me?” The woman’s casual tone only made his heart ache more.

Feng Qingbai shook his head. “I want to know, but I don’t want you to remember those past sufferings again. In this life, I will give everything I have to ensure your eternal peace.”

Liu Yusheng lifted the corners of her lips, the bitterness fading away, replaced by a faint sweetness.

Forget it. Seeing him like this, it was even harder for him than for her as the one involved. So she decided not to say more.

As for the other secret she hadn’t told him yet, she would let him know in time.

Her body heavy, holding one position too long made her especially tired, even making breathing feel difficult.

Liu Yusheng supported her belly and turned over, nestling into his embrace with her back to him, soon falling into a deep sleep.

Before revealing the secret of her reincarnation, she had felt anxious. After hearing his reaction, it was as if a shackle had been lifted, and she felt completely at ease.

Sleep came swiftly.

Her breathing became steady and gentle as she sank into sweet dreams, but the man behind her remained wide awake.

Those words were still echoing in his mind, and his emotions were unsettled for a long time after.

Who would have thought that his Shengsheng had been reborn with all her memories intact?

She had been exceptionally obedient and sensible since childhood, occasionally revealing flashes of intelligence. Now he understood there was a reason behind it all.

With a gaze that was hard to read, he gently pulled the woman closer.

He was grateful that Shengsheng had been reborn—reborn into a family like the Liu’s.

This allowed her, after suffering persecution from her own kin, to find the familial love she had lost in this life.

Such a beautiful woman deserved to have the very best.

If she did not have it, he would give it to her.

The next morning, dawn was breaking.

To Liu Yusheng’s surprise, Feng Qingbai was still in the room, unlike usual when he left for the early court session at the mao hour (5-7 a.m).

“Feng Qingbai, are you skipping work?”

Feng Qingbai lay beside her, lying on his side, propped up on one hand, watching her for who knows how long.

At her words, he raised a brow slightly. “Skipping work? That’s something they say in your past life’s world?”

“Yes,” Liu Yusheng grinned, “And terms like ‘single dog,’ ‘roast,’ ‘cut down’—all from that world’s slang.”

“Noted.”

“You’re welcome.”

After some playful banter, Liu Yusheng nudged him. “Are you really not going to the morning court? At least mark your attendance or something?”

“It’s already ‘chen’ hour (7-9 a.m.) now. ‘Mao’ hour passed long ago.”

“Could it be that what I said last night scared you so much that you don’t even dare to go to the morning court?”

The man’s eyes darkened imperceptibly by two degrees. “Yes, it scared me. I’m a bit worried. You might suddenly turn back to how you were before.”

“…I was legitimately reincarnated here. As long as nothing unexpected happens, I believe I can live out my natural lifespan here.”

Was she some wandering soul that could leave at any time?

She was already a person of this era.

Usually a very sharp man, he became foolish whenever it came to her.

Liu Yusheng seriously patted her belly and sighed, “Baby, what am I going to do if your dad is this dumb? Will you look down on him one day?”

“He dares,” Feng Qingbai narrowed his eyes and smirked coldly. Just as he learned to gently tap her belly like she did, a kick suddenly flew right in his palm..

“……”

“Pfft hahaha!” The woman burst out laughing uncontrollably, then pushed him off the bed. “Go and handle your official duties quickly. When you’re done, I’ll wait for you to come back for lunch. Don’t worry, I can’t fly out of your palm.”

She winked at him. “I wouldn’t want to fly away anyway.”

Pulling on the robe by the bed, Feng Qingbai curled the corner of his lips, his eyes never leaving her charming smile and graceful features. “Be good, wait for me to come back.”

“I promise not to leave the gate or step outside the door.”

With a deep look at her, Feng Qingbai left, reminding the two maids at the door to take good care of the princess consort before going.

He hadn’t planned on going to the palace today, but there were indeed matters to attend to.

It had been three months since he returned from the southeastern border, and Qin Xiao’s matter had been left unresolved all this time.

Last night, Qin Xiao sought him out in the imperial study, which was why he returned late—just in time for the evening meal.

Leaving someone hanging for three months was a form of torment for Qin Xiao.

It was like standing before an execution, with a blade suspended above one’s head. Just when he had braced himself to die, the blade never fell.

The feeling of waiting for death was endlessly prolonged.